Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Khulna Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Khulna

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $340 in Khulna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $540 in Khulna, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $739 in Khulna, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 155% more than Khulna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Khulna are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Khulna 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.6

$1.25 ৳154

55.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$7.17 ৳880

159.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿256

$4.20 ৳515

86.19%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 ৳278

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.75 ৳828

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.9

$0.76 ৳93.7

156.58%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ฿27.80

$0.26 ৳31.95

226.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.60

$0.12 ৳14.82

191.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$0.66 ৳81.4

159.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.3

$0.42 ৳51.3

288.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.18

$0.57 ৳70.0

100.00%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.2

$1.13 ৳138

70.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$9.23 ৳1,132

75.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.63 ৳322

18.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$6.14 ৳753

77.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$2.13 ৳261

29.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.56

$0.56 ৳69.1

116.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.98 ৳242

-18.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.9

$0.62 ৳76.1

156.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.75

$0.31 ৳37.48

351.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.20

$0.59 ৳72.1

98.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.62

$0.71 ৳87.2

-7.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.24

$0.32 ৳39.50

65.63%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$8.26 ৳1,013

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 ৳282

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.54 ৳802

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.90 ৳355

61.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿610

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.28

$0.17 ৳21.26

429.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$8.24 ৳1,011

133.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.96

$0.38 ৳46.73

271.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.16

$0.28 ৳34.55

360.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$2.84 ৳348

176.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.62

$1.06 ৳131

19.81%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.3K ฿695.5K

$22.5K ৳2.8M

-5.54%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.2K ฿726.1K

$19.0K ৳2.3M

17.03%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$69.1 ฿2,258

$37.54 ৳4,606

83.99%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.08 ฿460

$5.35 ৳656

163.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$19.94 ৳2,446

-9.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,342

$13.92 ৳1,707

194.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$12.18 ৳1,495

-42.86%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.07 ৳500

45.45%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$299 ฿9,775

$26.36 ৳3,233

1034.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.8K

$1,374 ৳168.6K

988.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,788

$28.14 ৳3,452

94.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿875

$36.62 ৳4,492

-26.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,778

$33.23 ৳4,076

155.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,308

$34.49 ৳4,231

104.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$65.4 ৳8,025

554.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,759

$41.96 ৳5,147

465.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$167 ৳20.4K

381.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.9K

$96.7 ৳11.9K

433.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$144 ৳17.6K

329.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-50.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Khulna: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $65.4 in Khulna. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 329% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $7.00 in Khulna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $111 – making Khulna the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chiang Mai vs Khulna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 155% more than Khulna, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $510 in Khulna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Khulna, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $26.36 in Khulna. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 123% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $340 in Khulna, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Khulna costs $340 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Khulna. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.